🦜 Back from the brink of extinction: Spix's macaws

Like so many other animals, the very rare Spix’s macaws have been exposed to hunting, destruction of its natural habitat and illegal trade. It’s been 20 years since the last of its kind was seen in nature. There is still hope however. In just a few days the Spix’s macaws will be reinstated in a reserve in Caatinga, northeastern Brazil.

This is possible thanks to a breeding and rehabilitation program. ACTP is a German non-profit organization that strives to help and save threatened parrots and their habitats. Together with the Pairi Daiza Foundation and the government of Brazil, ACTP has launched the re-introduction programme for the Spix’s Macaw.

After years of hard work, the team has bred 180 new healthy birds. In the Pairi Daiza zoo in Belgium eight birds live away from the public.

“In two weeks we will release the first eight Spix in the wild after 22 years of absence in their habitat," said zoological and veterinary director at Pairi Daiza zoo Tim Bouts.

Spix macaw may very well be the first bird species reintegrated into the wild by humans.

Picture: Phys.org